System, apparatus, and method for displaying variable legends on key buttons

1 . Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of key buttons, wherein each of the key buttons includes a transparent central portion;

a support structure mounting each of the key buttons to move vertically;

a plurality of resilient members, wherein each of the resilient members holds one of the key buttons upward within the support structure;

a plurality of traducers, each producing an electrical signal in response to downward movement of a key button in the plurality of key buttons;

a display screen extending under each of the key buttons and under the support structure to provide changeable display patterns visible through the central portion of each of the key buttons.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display screen includes a liquid crystal display.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the liquid crystal display is transilluminated.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display screen includes a plasma display.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of elongated segments extending under a peripheral portion of each key button and a plurality of apertures extending under the central portion of each key button.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the support structure and the resilient members form integral portions of an elastomeric structure.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein

the support structure is formed as a rigid member,

the apparatus additionally includes an elastomeric structure extending along the plurality of elongated segments, and

the plurality of resilient members form portions of the elastomeric structure.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the transducers includes:

first and second electrodes extending along an upper surface of the display screen in a spaced-apart relationship under the key button;

a third electrode extending along a lower surface of the key button;

and a circuit sensing a change of capacitance between the first and second electrodes as the third electrode is moved downward toward the first and second electrodes and generating an electrical signal indicating depression of the key button.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the third electrode extends along at least a portion of the lower surface of a peripheral portion of the key button, and

the first and second electrodes are disposed under portions of the third electrode.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the first, second, and third electrodes are transparent and electrically conductive,

the third electrode extends along at least a portion of the lower surface of the central portion of the key button, and

the first and second electrodes are disposed under portions of the third electrode.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the transducers includes:

a pair of switch contacts closed by downward movement of the key button; and

a circuit producing an electrical signal in response to closing the pair of switch contacts.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the transducers includes:

a portion of a conducive grid extending under the key button; and

a circuit measuring voltage levels on the conductive grid in response to movement of an electrode attached to the key button.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising a housing having a plurality of pins disposed outwardly from the display panel, wherein the support structure extends outwardly from the display panel to provide a plurality of holes extending around the pins to hold the support structure in position extending across the display panel.

14 . A computer system comprising:

a keyboard including a plurality of key buttons, each including a transparent central portion, a support structure mounting each of the key buttons to move vertically, a plurality of resilient members, each holding one of the key buttons upward within the support structure, a plurality of transducers, each producing an electrical signal in response to downward movement of one of the key buttons, and a display screen extending under each of the key;

data and instruction storage storing a plurality of data structures, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing one of the key buttons with the computer system in a particular state of operation;

a microprocessor programmed to determine a particular state of operation of the computer system, to select a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system, and to generate a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to particular state of operation of the computer system.

15 . The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the microprocessor is programmed to determine the particular state of operation of the computer system by a method including determining which application program is executing within the computing system.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the method additionally includes determining a combination of control key buttons being depressed.

17 . The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the microprocessor is additionally programmed to perform a method including:

displaying a user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed in response to depressing a combination of key buttons within the keyboard including a key button within the plurality of key buttons;

receiving input data entered by depressing key buttons on the keyboard; and

storing data in one of the data structures to represent the input data.

18 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that the user has defined a function to be performed in response to determining that a combination of key buttons is being depressed.

19 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that a displayed icon has been selected.

20 . A method for providing a user interface indicating multiple uses of a plurality of key buttons within a computer system, wherein the method includes:

maintaining a plurality of data structures within data storage, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing a key button within a plurality of key buttons in a keyboard with the computing system in a particular state of operation;

determining a particular state of operation of the computer system;

selecting a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system; and

generating a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein a determination of the particular state of operation of the computer system includes determining which application program is executing within the computer system.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the determination of the particular state of operation of the computer system additionally includes determining a combination of control key buttons being depressed.

23 . The method of claim 20 , additionally comprising:

displaying a user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed in response to depressing a combination of key buttons within the keyboard including a key button within the plurality of key buttons;

receiving input data entered by depressing key buttons on the keyboard; and

storing data in one of the data structures to represent the input data.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that the user has defined a function to be performed in response to determining that a combination of key buttons is being depressed.

25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that a displayed icon has been selected.

26 . A computer readable medium having computer usable code stored thereon causing a processor to perform a method for providing a user interface indicating multiple uses of a plurality of key buttons within a computer system, wherein the method includes:

maintaining a plurality of data structures within data storage, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing a key button within a plurality of key buttons in a keyboard with the computing system in a particular state of operation;

determining a particular state of operation of the computer system;

selecting a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system; and

generating a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system.

27 . The computer readable medium of claim 26 , wherein a determination of the particular state of operation of the computer system includes determining which application program is executing within the computer system.

28 . The computer readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the determination of the particular state of operation of the computer system additionally includes determining a combination of control key buttons being depressed.

29 . The computer readable medium of claim 26 , wherein the method additionally comprises:

displaying a user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed in response to depressing a combination of key buttons within the keyboard including a key button within the plurality of key buttons;

receiving input data entered by depressing key buttons on the keyboard; and

storing data in one of the data structures to represent the input data.

30 . The computer readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that the user has defined a function to be performed in response to determining that a combination of key buttons is being depressed.

31 . The computer readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that a displayed icon has been selected.

32 . A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave including computer usable code causing a processor to perform a method for providing a user interface indicating multiple uses of a plurality of key buttons within a computer system, wherein the method includes:

maintaining a plurality of data structures within data storage, wherein each of the data structures includes data representing a plurality of characters to be written to a document in response to depressing a key button within a plurality of key buttons in a keyboard with the computing system in a particular state of operation;

determining a particular state of operation of the computer system;

selecting a data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system; and

generating a visual pattern to be displayed on the display screen under each of the key buttons from data corresponding to the key button stored within the data structure corresponding to the particular state of operation of the computer system.

33 . The computer data signal of claim 32 , wherein a determination of the particular state of operation of the computer system includes determining which application program is executing within the computer system.

34 . The computer data signal of claim 33 , wherein the determination of the particular state of operation of the computer system additionally includes determining a combination of control key buttons being depressed.

35 . The computer data signal of claim 32 , wherein the method additionally comprises:

displaying a user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed in response to depressing a combination of key buttons within the keyboard including a key button within the plurality of key buttons;

receiving input data entered by depressing key buttons on the keyboard; and

storing data in one of the data structures to represent the input data.

36 . The computer data signal of claim 35 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that the user has defined a function to be performed in response to determining that a combination of key buttons is being depressed.

37 . The computer data signal of claim 35 , wherein the user interface including a prompt to enter data describing a function to be performed is displayed in response to a determination that a displayed icon has been selected.